Can Sun take a 2-0 lead against Lynx? Three keys for Connecticut in Game 2

Can Sun take a 2-0 lead against Lynx? Three keys for Connecticut in Game 2 originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Connecticut Sun took home advantage away from the Minnesota Lynx in the WNBA semifinals. But taking a 2-0 lead won't be easy.

The Sun earned a narrow 73-70 victory over the Lynx in Game 1 on Sunday, limiting Minnesota superstar Napheesa Collier to 19 points on 7 of 16 shooting and 20 from Marina Mabrey, who caught up midseason points scored.

Game 2 is scheduled for Tuesday night at 9:30 p.m. ET in Minnesota, and the Lynx — who haven't lost consecutive games since mid-July — will almost certainly make adjustments. So what does Connecticut need to do to emerge victorious?

NBC Connecticut sports reporter Gabby Lucivero recently joined NBC Boston's Hannah Donnelly On her signal Podcast to share their three keys to a Suns win in Game 2. Lucivero's first key? Get DeWanna Bonner to go on offense.

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“I think Bonner needs to have a better night shooting,” Lucivero told Donnelly. “I think DB would say she needs to have a better shooting night. Because we're going to make sure Minnesota steps it up. (Collier) will look at the box score and say, 'That's not acceptable to me.' So we'll see these two things get tightened up.

Bonner scored just 10 points on 4 of 17 shooting (2 of 8 from 3-point range) in Game 1, but Connecticut's strong defense contributed to the victory. Lucivero's other key revolved around slowing down Collier, who combined for a whopping 80 points in the Lynx's 2-0 win over the Phoenix Mercury in Round 1.

“I think they need to find a way to take (Collier) out of the game without necessarily requiring a four-player rotation,” Lucivero said. “So, No. 2 is, what's the solution for (Collier) knowing she expects to play better than she did in Game 1?”

Lucivero's third key focused on Sun guard DiJonai Carrington, who was recently named the WNBA's Most Improved Player. Alyssa Thomas, Bonner and Mabrey are Connecticut's three strongest offensive players. So if Carrington – who scored 13 points in Game 1 – can make a significant contribution in that regard, that's an important X-factor for the Sun.

“I’m going to take Alyssa Thomas out of the game because Alyssa Thomas Is “The key to the game,” Lucivero said. “So, I want to see more – it feels wrong to say 'more' of DiJonai Carrington because she's done everything – but we haven't really talked about her much.” This, and she's such a big part of why the sun is here, and I loved its trajectory.”

“…Key three is DiJonai with a new look. Just more of it. I think she played great in Game 1 – now just give us more.”

Follow the On Her Mark podcast throughout the WNBA playoffs for reaction and analysis on every Sun game.